Making Progress? The Function of Assessment for Students with Moderate Learning Difficulties. A Special Needs Document.

Roberts, J. E.; And Others

This study is a background paper aiming to provide a review of current practice in the assessment of students in further education who have special educational needs, in particular those students with moderate learning difficulties. The study examines the content, method, and aims of assessment and its relationship to the course curriculum. It also examines the role of staff carrying out assessment and looks at their attitudes and opinions. These issues are surveyed over 64 separate courses at 40 colleges of further education, with case studies at 4 colleges providing more detailed descriptions of the problems faced in assessing students with special educational needs. The report also provides guidelines for the development of assessment procedures for this group of students, related to the development of the curriculum. A discussion of recent literature relevant to the subject sets the context of the study. Assessment forms are included in the document. (KC)